Chaverim y'karim - dear friends,

 

The pictured hamsa (a hand as a symbol of blessing, prosperity, protection, and reminder) displays a picture of a Bratzlaver chassid with an expression of Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav (1772-1810, Ukraine), "For there is no such things as despair! Ein shoom yeiush ba'olam k'lal!"

 

The full quote reads: The main thing is to encourage oneself in every way possible {for there is no such thing as despair!} ... And be what may, even if one has fallen to where he has fallen, God spare us, since he encourages himself with something, he still has hope of repenting and returning to God. (Lekutei Mohoran, 78:7:3)

 

The "Bratzlavers" are a sect of Chassidim who express great joy - ecstatic, really - and are perhaps best known for breaking out in song and dance along city streets in Israel.

 

Reading the news (including some of the selections below) could lead to great despair. And no, I'm not talking about the Patriots' current season.

 

While there is great mythology about Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav, in this moment, I draw on his teaching and reply: the only despair in the world is man-made. Those things, for which we get frustrated, worried, anxious, and upset are man-made and if so ... I genuinely believe that they are solvable by the same species who created the problems.

 

The troubles we created are solvable - and while we wish they could be resolved within minutes, days, years, or decades - sometimes, they may take centuries or longer. Judaism and the Jewish people play the long game (maybe the Patriots, too?). In no way, am I diminishing our real troubles today. Many are painful and deep - ask any of the 200,000 Israelis who have been unable to return home (if there even is a home remaining) over the last 14 months - or the Israeli reservists who have served in the army for well over 200 days this past year.

 

Our challenge is to see that there could be a larger story, upon which we can have an impact. Maybe we might take a cue from what Rebecca saw as she "alighted from the camel" (Genesis 24:64) when she lay her eyes on her intended, Isaac - as she does in this week's Torah reading. The Hebrew is much more playful - clearly she was "head-over-heels" as she fell off the camel: וַתִּפֹּ֖ל מֵעַ֥ל הַגָּמָֽל.

 

Rebecca went off with Eliezer, Abraham's servant, in an arranged marriage with Abraham's son, Isaac. She would go on to become one of our matriarchs. She brought healing to her husband who mourned the death of his mother (and the challenged relationship with his father). Later she could be called manipulative or discerning, depending on your opinion, but at a minimum - she was shrewd and insightful. I do not imagine that Rebecca set off on her journey imagining what would come next but in her various encounters, she surely assessed each one for what the moment demanded.

 

And undoubtedly there were times she failed and in others, she determined the fate of our people.

 

I spoke of a related theme on Rosh HaShanah and again this past Shabbat. Our narrative oscillates. There are highs and lows. There are times during which we must sit passively along the sidelines and others where we are in the grid-iron and can make a real impact. I say, "Put us in, Coach!" and let's see how we can move the ball forward for purposeful, collective blessing.

 

Shavua tov, may it be a good week,

 

Rabbi Mark Cohn, 18 November 2024

rabbicohn@tsholom.org 

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NOVEMBER Lunch & Learns @ Noon in the Library

 

Nov 19 (Tuesday) Special guest: Benji Lovitt. (see flyer)

 

Nov 26 (Tuesday) At my installation, when I spoke of being more or less "committed, serious, engaged, observant" - what does that mean in practice? See "Jewpilled," "Jewish Pride is Not Enough," and "Show Up to Synagogue," and (recent articles) that fit the topic nicely.